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During the 33rd session of The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) this past June in London, England, it was announced that eleven cultural sites and two natural sites have been added to the World Heritage list.
The new additions include:

• The Wadden Sea, Germany/Netherlands
• The Dolomites, Italy
• Stoclet House, Belgium
• The Ruins of Loropeni, Burkina Faso
• Mount Wutai, China
• Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System, Iran
• Sulamain-Too Scared Mountain, Kyrgyzstan
• The Sacred City of Caral-Supe, Peru
• The Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty, Republic of Korea
• The Tower of Hercules, Spain
• La Chaux-de-Fonds/Le Locle, Switzerland
• Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal, United Kingdom
• The Great Saltworks of Salins-les-Bains, France

For only the second time in the history of UNESCO, a site on the World Heritage list has been removed.  The Dresden Elbe Valley in Germany was unable to retain its status due to the construction of a four-lane bridge in the middle of the site.

Three world sites are threatened by various factors and were added to the danger list.  They include the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, Los Katios National Park in Colombia, and the Historical Monuments of Mtskheta in Georgia.

Based in Paris and established in 1945, UNESCO encourages awareness of the natural and cultural heritage worldwide.  For more information, visit UNESCO .

KIVA is an amazing organization that provides micro-lending to people in need.  Last year alone, KIVA loaned over $50 million through the generosity of its members.

If you’re not familiar with it, the concept of micro-lending is simple.  It’s the extension of very small loans to unemployed or poor entrepreneurs who are not considered to be bankable.  The entrepreneurs can ask for any amount of money, on average it’s about $600, and it’s funded in $25 increments by lenders in 50 countries.

Lend money to fix a taxi in Honduras, stock a pharmacy in Tanzania, or to help purchase a delivery motorcycle for a food market in Cambodia.  To lenders, Kiva is a great way to help those in need; to borrowers, it can be life changing.

To date, KIVA has over 370,000 lenders providing loans to people in 185 countries with a 98% repayment rate.  Kiva has raised over $77,000,000 since its conception only 44 months ago.  KIVA - Loans that change Lives.

Roatan’s newest and finest cultural attraction will give visitors a little taste of Honduras all in one place.

Developed and operated by the iconic Anthony’s Key Resort (AKR), Maya Key is located in the harbor of Coxen Hole, Roatan.  Opened to visitors in the first week in June, 2009, Maya Key boasts reconstructions of Copan’s famous Maya ruins, a native arts & crafts studio, a traditional Maya village, and a wildlife rescue center displaying many of Honduras’ diverse wild animal species.

“Honduras is a small but diverse and culturally rich country and we want to pay tribute to that,” says Samir Galindo, General Manager of AKR. “We are very proud of our country and we want the world to get to know us better, and this is a convenient and quick way to do that.”

Twenty years ago AKR pioneered Honduras’ only research and educational dolphin program, the Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences (RIMS). The Institute is a unique on-site research and educational facility with the only dolphin program in Honduras. As one of Roatan’s first dive resorts over the years Anthony’s has expanded to include the RIMS, the Roatan Museum, a fully-equipped medical center, dolphin activities and now Maya Key.

The all-inclusive dive resort is located 35 mi (56km) off the coast of Honduras on Roatan, Bay Islands, part of the second largest barrier reef system in the world.

The official start of the Atlantic hurricane season is June 1, 2009 and the best defense for a hurricane is to be prepared.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) provides information in regards to hurricane preparedness and what you can do to protect yourself, your family, and your property by directing you to the Emergency Management office in your state.

Weather forecasters have predicted the 2009 season will bring 14 named hurricanes with the potential for 7 of them to become hurricanes while 3 are predicted to become major hurricanes.

For more information, visit the NHC .

Princess Cruises is offering an amazing 107-day world cruise that will take you to the north, south, east, and west with the experience and knowledge that only Princess can offer with over 40 years of sailing the ocean blue.

Sailing from Ft. Lauderdale, FL, to Rome, this 107-day luxurious cruise will stop at an amazing 40 ports including overnight stays in Sydney, Australia, and Xingang, China. 

If you don’t want to wait until 2010 for this cruise, a 104-day cruise is still available on the Dawn Princess sailing roundtrip from Sydney on July 5, 2009.  Ports include Cork, Ireland; Paris, France; Goa, India, plus an overnight stay in Bermuda.

Remember, cruising is the best vacation value for your money.  For more information, visit: Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises, offering “voyages as memorable as the places they visit,” is pleased to announce their 2010 & 2011 Exotic cruise line up visiting Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Tahiti & the South Pacific, and South America.

New ports of call include Toulon, France; Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Manila, Philippines; Xiamen, China and Maputo, Mozambique.

Join Princess on an Exotic cruise with vacations ranging from 2-day experience to a 23-day West Africa, India, & Southeast Asia Grand Adventure voyage.  Among the Princess ships sailing to exotic destinations in 2010 and 2011 are all three of their small ships – the Ocean Princess, Pacific Princess and the Royal Princess .

Among the new itineraries is an amazing 107-day world cruise – see Part Two, May 23.

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Princess Cruises is offering fantastic savings on great holiday 2009 sailings from now until June 15, 2009.

It’s never too early to start thinking about the holidays and with these incredible savings now is the time to book a magical winter cruise to the Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Panama Canal, South America, Asia or the South Pacific. 

This sale is offering savings of up to $1,600 per couple off Launch Fares with 50% off 3^rd & 4^th passenger fares plus free upgrades on select sailings.  To learn more information, visit Princess Cruises.

Today is Earth Day, April 22, 2009.  What better way to celebrate than to take action?

Earth Day events are happening around the world and it’s still not too late to participate!  Attend an educational workshop, a parade, wine tasting, or a concert – find a complete list of events here!

If you can’t attend an event, you can donate, join, or volunteer through the Earth Day Network (EDN).  Even easier - plant a tree or simply switch out an incandescent light bulb!  Everyone can do their part.

Today is also the official kick off for the Green Generation campaign started by EDN whose mission is to provide a healthy, sustainable environment for all people of the world today and for our future.

Happy Earth Day!

US Airways recently reinstated complimentary beverages to coach passengers on all of their US Airways & US Airways Express flights.

Passengers can now choose from complimentary coffee, tea, water, soda or juice during their flight.  Alcoholic beverages including beer, wine and cocktails can still be purchased for a fee.

According to the Department of Transportation (DOT), US Airways was the number one on-time airline in the USA in 2008. 

Based in Tempe, Arizona, US Airways operates 3,100 daily flights serving the USA, Canada, the Caribbean, Latin America and Europe.  As part of the Star Alliance network, this raises US Airway’s flight offerings to 16,500 daily flights in 159 countries.

Couchsurfing is a simple travel concept – it’s a network of people from around the world that have one thing in common besides the desire to travel.  That’s the desire to travel for free.

Located in Berkeley, CA, this non-profit organization has been helping people connect worldwide through the CouchSurfing website.  It’s free to use – simply join by creating a user profile, decide when and where you’d like to travel, do a search for other members in that area, and “request to CouchSurf” with those members of interest. 

How you choose to CouchSurf is up to you.  You can request accommodation or simply meet for a drink or coffee at the destination of your choice, plus you can host a similar encounter in your neck of the woods to others.  There is no pressure to accept or decline a hosting experience.

With over 1 million members in 232 countries worldwide, the majority of CouchSurfers are in Europe which provides a wealth of opportunities for those members in North America to go abroad.  According to CouchSurfing.com, the top 5 CouchSurfing cities are Paris, London, Berlin, Montreal and Vienna with 27 being the average age of travelers.